Aurora stepped out quickly and went to throw herself in grandfather’s arms. Grandfather Lester hugged her tightly “You’re going to make this old man stumbled over…” he complained but smiling broadly and kept holding her in his arms.
“Grandfather, I missed you grandfather” Aurora chimed, her eyes welled up with tears. A lot has happened and a few years have passed.
Grandfather now looks very old and wrinkled skin. His hair had all completely turned grey but his teeth still sparkled white as he exposed them in a smile.
“My child…oh my child…you’re still alive?” He asked, despite holding her in his arms. Of course she’s still alive, otherwise, how can she be standing before him?
“I’m alive, grandfather. How’re you doing lately” she asked, now circling her arms around grandfather’s bent shoulders. This man was definitely a tall man in his younger days, but as old age took tolls on him, his shoulders are now slightly bent and he walks with the use of a stick.
“I am fine, my child. Except that my old wrinkled bones get fatigued easily” he complained. His joints are sometimes painful for him.
“You’ll be fine, grandfather, planting a featherlight kiss on his wrinkled chin. Grandfather has a good heart. He’s the one most loving in that family.
If he dies, the Lester family will cease from having good hearted people. She wished that he lived ten thousand years more.
As they got back into the house, Aurora saw Alice. Aurora saw a tinge of guilt flooded her heart. How can she have forgotten her good friends?
Alice hadn’t really changed. The woman stood with tear filled eyes. Aurora walked to her and hugged her, her eyes now welled up with tears.
There’s something different about the Lester mansion. The last day she spent there was the day she was supposed to get divorced with Adrian and that was the day he was arrested by Anna.
There’s friendliness in the air. The servants all came out to say hello to her. Those who didn’t know her but heard about the young master’s late wife were also excited.
Aurora felt so loved. Even those she’d not met, she saw how they all hovered around her, calling her a princess. She was happy. She hugged them all and they say they missed her very much.
This is really a surprise. So the Lester family can have so much life and happiness in it? Could it be because the breeder of evilness is now locked behind those walls called a prison?
She whispered to Alice “This excitement is strange here. Anna and Adrian are not home, perhaps”
“Not at all. The one who made all of us happy, both servants and employees as part of this family is Adrian. He’s a different person now and welcomes everyone as part of himself” she whispered back and Aurora was taken aback.
As she sat at dinner with grandfather, she picked dishes for him. She insisted that he eat more veggies and go on natural blended fruits.
Grandfather was happy. Ava is such a beautiful soul. He is at ease with Ava being with him during the meal exactly like Alice was.
Aurora wondered if Richard and Adrian would arrive to join them but they didn’t. They finished their meal and grandfather decided to go for a stroll around the compound, to help aid his digestion.
“Where’s my great granddaughter?” Grandfather asked. He knows about the girl. He wished he could see her and kiss her chin before he died. He would have to tell Mara that she’s got a great granddaughter in this life.
“She’s fine grandfather. Next time, I’ll bring her to kiss your feet” Aurora promised. Grandfather was happy. That’s thoughtful of her.
As they got to a resting place, Grandfather took a seat and asked Aurora to sit down also. This is a dream come true. Ava is alive and came to see him.
“I’m happy that you’re alive Ava. Now, my night of tears has ended. I couldn’t bear it when I heard that you had died. I asked the creator why he didn’t take my life and give it to you” Grandfather paused, his voice shaking.
Aurora held his hands and gave it a soft squeeze. “Don’t get emotional grandfather. I’m alive and I’m also glad that you didn’t die from that attack” Aurora consoled. He was her only witness back then and she prayed silently that he stayed alive and he did.
“Thanks for saving my life back then. The culprit was found and sent to jail. I was mad with Adrian and accused him of being responsible for your death.
But now, that anger against him had vanished. You’re alive. My great granddaughter is alive. I am happy seeing you and I do hope I will be happier when you bring Adrian’s daughter to receive my blessings” Granddaughter chimed.
“I’m happy to see you alive too, grandfather. And I’m sorry that I didn’t check on you all these years, my bad. Forgive me grandfather” Aurora pleaded.
“You can never do anything that I will hold as a grudge against you. You’ll always be my granddaughter. I know that you and Adrian are really parted now, but that daughter you both made would always make you part of each other’s life.
I want to beg you, please forgive everything Adrian had done to you for my sake. Don’t let him lose his right over his daughter. As it is, the only thing that Adrian has in this life now, is his daughter” grandfather said, his eyes clouded with tears.
Aurora was lost. How can Elsie be the only thing Adrian has in this life? Besides, she’s already taken his right over Elsie away when she told him she’s not his daughter.
“Don’t worry about Adrian grandfather, he’ll be fine” Aurora declared. She doesn’t know why she thinks he would be fine, but he can always make babies with any woman of his choice.
“No, he cannot be fine, at least not now. Adrian is far from being fine and I am the architect of the pain my grandson now goes through. I have been foolish in my old age…” grandfather said and sniffled.
He should be described as an old foolish man. He cleaned his tears and Aurora held him close, consoling him. Why is grandfather saying this about himself?
“Please Grandfather, you’re one of the greatest grandfathers this world can record. Don’t say such things about yourself” Aurora cautioned.
“You’re saying that because you don’t know why I said that”he paused, sniffled and continued “My actions back then, has only brought Adrian into pains and chains of pains.
What kind of a grandfather am I, huh, when my grandson is experiencing a difficult situation in his life currently because I thought I was doing the right thing? I am the worst of men in my generation. I wish I had died a long time ago, that I didn’t have to see what my grandson is going through…” he paused and sniffled .
“If anything happens to Adrian, blame it on me. My actions had only brought him thus far” grandfather concluded, and looked straight in front of him.